By Lacey Jackson and Jim Sears, BuyLocalBg@gmail.com/
Tuesday, September 17th, 2013 10:00 AM CST
What do football, white squirrels and the humane society have in common? This is not the start of a bad bar joke but it is the start of Blanco’s Furry Friends. The WKU Store has sponsored a number of philanthropic organizations in the past – Wounded Warriors, Toys for Tots, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. It only seems natural with the increasing popularity of Bowling Green’s white squirrel to have one furry animal help another furry friend.
The WKU Store has been selling white squirrel merchandise for the last several years. It has been a hit with traditional as well as non-traditional students. Visitors to campus frequently comment about the white squirrel and its origins. The mystery of the white squirrel only lends to the legend. Students for decades have been debating this very question. Lack of historical evidence makes it all the more fun. The WKU Store has embraced this ambiguity with the hope of furthering WKU folklore.
With this in mind, The WKU Store has adopted Col. Blanco as the official store mascot as well as a key component in marketing and promotions. He has appeared on t-shirts, posters, magnets, stadium cups, face tattoos, and even hosts his own blog (blancosblog.wordpress.com). Col. Blanco is a work in progress. With a past like that, he’s indefinable. This leaves the door open to limitless possibilities. We created Col. Blanco, let’s have him do some good.
A logical step would be for Col. Blanco to help his furry friends. Blanco’s Furry Friends will be a campaign in conjunction with the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society to help raise funds for the Bowling Green facility. In something of a perfect storm situation (think white-out) WKU will playing a White-Out Football game, hosting Parent Family Weekend and celebrating the grand opening of The WKU Store at DSU, Saturday, September 21.
The WKU Store was temporarily located at the Garrett Conference Center Ballroom while renovations were in progress at Downing Student Union. The new main campus location is at ground level just across from the Houchens-Smith Stadium. This new location will be prime real estate when the Toppers kick off their first BG home game against Morgan State. The store’s south door is literally feet away from the stadium and that adds up to a lot of possibilities. After a year away from all the activities of all the football games, the WKU Store staff is preparing for something different every game.
White-Out and White Squirrel
The WKU Store will be handing out 1,000 twenty-two ounce white squirrel stadium cups and magnets. Kids will be able to show their Topper spirit with Big Red and Col. Blanco face tattoos. Our Grand Opening specials will run two days, Friday, September 20th and Saturday, September 21 free to shop twice!
Col. Blanco’s Furry Friends
The WKU Store has in its possession an autographed football signed by WKU Head Coach Bobby Petrino. The store will be collecting $1 donations for Blanco’s Furry Friends. One lucky name drawn from the donations will receive the football and a white squirrel water bottle. All proceeds will be given to the local BG Humane Society.
The Humane Society’s mission is to provide a clean comfortable shelter for homeless, abused, lost and impounded animals of our community; to place as many of these animals as possible in loving and responsible homes and humanely euthanize those not adopted; to investigate complaints of animal abuse/neglect; and to educate the public about responsible care of companion animals, especially spay/neuter. Find them on Facebook and online at www.bgshelterpets.com.
Col. Blanco and The WKU Store
Part of The WKU Store’s mission statement is to participate with local charities and philanthropic groups. It is important that The WKU Store be an active participant in the Bowling Green community. We hope that this partnership with the Humane Society is a part of a bigger vision. We feel that The WKU Store is in a unique position to help the community and we believe that Col. Blanco can be the vehicle to accomplish part of this mission. Embracing a local element strengthens campus/community ties. Col. Blanco can give us all a warm and fuzzy. st . Fans will also be able to receive these promotional discounts at our in-town store on Nashville Road.
